Xabi Alonso demands hunger from Chelsea, says Liverpool timing blocked Anfield return, and confirms Enzo Fernandez stay

Alonso explains Liverpool snub

Xabi Alonso's appointment at Chelsea was confirmed in May, but Monday marked his first formal appearance in front of the media at Stamford Bridge. The 44-year-old Spaniard, who won the Champions League as a Liverpool player in 2005, addressed the long-running speculation linking him with the manager's job at Anfield. Speaking to BBC Sport, he attributed his decision solely to timing.

Well, it is about timings. I am here today on my first day at Stamford Bridge, talking to you. I am looking forward to this challenge, a big challenge, and Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs and I am looking forward to having success here.

BBC Sport had previously reported that Alonso had no contact with Liverpool before taking the Chelsea job. Arne Slot was sacked by Liverpool after a trophyless season and was succeeded by Andoni Iraola, a childhood friend of Alonso's from San Sebastian who shares the same agent.

A demand for hunger and a new culture

Alonso inherits a Chelsea side that finished 10th in the Premier League last season, failing to qualify for any European competition and ending the campaign trophyless. In front of broadcast cameras and written journalists gathered in the Drake Suite, he set an immediate tone by calling for a shift in mentality across the club.

We need hunger, passion, we need to want to improve. The Premier League is so competitive. We need to prepare ourselves, we need to be determined in the details, in how we want to play. But the most important bit is our game.

Alonso arrives with a track record of a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, followed by a short seven-month spell at Real Madrid. At Chelsea, he faces a club that has seen four managers depart mid-season in the past five years, with no manager lasting beyond two years since Antonio Conte, who also delivered the club's last Premier League crown. Alonso was cautious about making long-term predictions, saying only that the ambition was to win many games and be competitive.

Fernandez stays, Garnacho on the way out

The futures of two Argentine internationals dominated much of the questioning. Alonso confirmed he wants midfielder Enzo Fernandez to stay at Stamford Bridge. Real Madrid had released a statement earlier in July 2026 categorically denying interest in signing the player. Alonso said he has spoken directly with Fernandez, who is currently with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, where they face England in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

We have spoken but, as you can understand, what we have spoken remains private.

On Alejandro Garnacho, the tone was different. The winger scored just one Premier League goal in 24 appearances last term following his move from Manchester United, and Alonso confirmed interest from other clubs. Garnacho is not training with the first team as a transfer is being pursued, with Alonso noting that he hopes the situation resolves in the best possible way for all parties.

New signing Palestra and the Cole Palmer factor

Chelsea have made only one major signing in the transfer window so far: right-back Marco Palestra, who joined from Serie A side Atalanta on a contract running until 2033. Alonso described him as a physically strong player with great versatility, capable of playing in a back four or a back five and even on the left. He praised Palestra's competitive mentality.

Alonso also offered his early impressions of Cole Palmer, who has been training at Cobham after being left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup. After only a few sessions, Alonso called him a special talent and a player who can make the right decision in the right moment. He signalled that Palmer would be a key figure in Chelsea's attack this season.

European ambitions and a long pre-season

Chelsea missed out on the Conference League by only one point last season. Alonso made no attempt to downplay the consequence, saying that returning to European competition is a clear objective. A long pre-season tour across Asia and Oceania will serve as the first phase of implementing his tactical ideas, though he noted that the full squad is not yet assembled. He has been in close contact with the club's sporting directors and described the working relationship as collaborative, with alignment on recruitment priorities and squad planning.

Alonso's deal is a four-year contract. When asked about his dynamic with the sporting leadership, he stressed that all decisions are taken together and that he feels fully involved in shaping the squad. The Spaniard ended his playing career at Bayern Munich in 2017, having also represented Liverpool and Real Madrid, and began coaching in Real Madrid's academy before spells with Real Sociedad's reserves, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Madrid.